Up North Combine


The Up North Combine is an amalgamation of pigeon racing clubs and federations founded in 1905. Headquarters are located in Greatham, Hartlepool, and the radius of serving federations go from Staithes to Berwick. The combine is governed by the North of England Homing Union. They organise the annual Mighty Up North Combine race from Lille. The race is Britain's largest and has been called "the world's greatest".
The organisation was featured in a 1969 documentary, Time on the Wing, made by Turners Film Productions for Vaux Breweries on pigeon fancying and pigeon racing in the North East of England. This showed officials and convoy organisers discuss arrangements for the trip to the Vaux-Usher International Gold Tankard Pigeon Race which involved the transport of some 19,000 birds.
Tommy Newton of the Houghton Federation was the owner of the winner of the first race from Lille they organised in 2000, the first winner from that club since 1938.

Officials

Border Federation

Coquetdale Federation

East Celeveland Federation

Gateshead Federation

Hartlepool Federation

Hetton Federation

Houghton Federation

Mid Tyne Federation
Middlesbrough Federation

Newcastle West Federation

North East Counties Federation

North Yorkshire Federation

Northumberland Premier Federation

Shotton & Trimdon Federation
Ferryhill & District
South East Durham Federation

South Shields Federation

Sunderland & District Federation

Sunderland Premier Federation

Teesside Federation

Tees Valley Federation

Tynemouth Federation

Wansbeck Federation

Members

As of 2017 the combine had 23 Federations affiliated, 120 clubs affiliated and 2614 members.